Roof construction



Oct. 6, 1931. M. L. HOUSEMAN ROOF CONSTRUCTION Filed May 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. rMarfm L flousamalz BY Ju/nxzwd, qgfma HM A TTORNE Y5.

06L 1931- M. HOUSEMAN ROOF CONSTRUCTION Filed May 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I MartmLjzfause/wa OR NE Y5.

Patented Oct. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARTIN L. HOUSEMAN, OF HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOIB OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN GOBEN, 01 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA ROOF CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed Kay 8, 1929. Serial No. 360,937.

This invention relates to a roofing structure, and particularly pertains to a roof having a cable supporting structure.

In the construction of buildings having a large expanse of roof, it is common practice to provide an elaborate frame structure for supporting the roof in the form of a dome' without vertical supports intermediate the ends of the roof span, or to provide a roof frame of less strength having vertical s u porting posts at intervals to carry the welg t of the frame and the roof and ceiling.

It is highly desirable to provide a roof structure which is light in weight and possesses great strength, while lending itself to the dome type of design in which vertical supporting posts are unnecessary.

The present invention contemplates the construction of a roof or roof dome, the frame and supporting elements of which are formed of cable, rope, rods or other members, and which members may be readily assembled to form a roof frame of large span capable of supporting the weight of a ceiling and a roof covering without the use of inter mediate vertical supporting posts.

The invention is more particularly described by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in plan showing a roof of the type with which the present invention is concerned and with parts broken away for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section taken centrally of the r )of on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and showing the component parts of the roof frame,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View in vertical section showing the ceiling and roof structure as applied to the frame.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 10 indicates a king post disposed centrally of an area adapted to be roofed. It is understood that this area may be circular, eliptical, or of any other desired configuration, adapted to lend itself to the design of this particular roof structure. The king post is supported upon chords 11, extending radially of'the post and being secured at their outer ends by stirrups 12, or otherwise, to

upright posts 13 which form the circumscribing wall structure of the enclosure. These posts, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, may be arranged equidistant from the-king post, and are connected by intermediate chord beams 14 along their inner faces and circumscriblng connecting beams 15 along their outer faces. 7 The chords 11 are formed of cable of a desired diameter and tensile strength, and are preferably carried continuously from one'post 13 across the building to a d ametrically opposite post 13 upon the opposlte side of the building, the chord members passing beneath the king -post 10 and bemg secured in place by a bolting plate 16 fastened to a flange 17 on the bottom of the king post 10 by bolts 18. These bolts, as shown 1n Fig. 1 of the drawings, preferably extend between each adjacent pair of chords 11, to act as spacers'therefor. Due to this continuous arrangement of the chords 11 without intermediate fastenings, the tensile strength of the chords will be uniform from one supportlng post 13-to another supporting post 13 in the building structure.

The chord cables 11 practically carry the entire weight of the roof structure, and directly support the king post 10.

A plurality of radial guy wires 19 are secured to the upper ends of the vertical posts 13 and are lead upwardly to be fastened to the upper end of the king post 10. These wires are preferably in the same vertical plane as the chord cables 11, and may extend continuously from one post 13 to a similar post 13 at the opposite side of the roof, as previously described for chords 11. In this event, the guy wires 19 will be lead over a flange 20 formed at the upper end of the king post 10, and will be clamped by a plate 21 held in position by bolts 22. Disposed in the same plane with the guy wires and positioned thereabove, are roof supporting cables 23. These cables are secured by their ends to fastenings 24, suitably attached to the vertical post 13 of the wall structure at a desired distance below the point of connection of the cables 11 therewith. The roof cables are lead upwardly over the king post 10 and are clamped down by the bolts 22 and the plate 21.

A plurality of rigid struts are disposed between the guy wires 19 and the roof cables 23 and are of graduated length, as particularly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. These struts form roof supporting trusses 26 which lie in the same plane with the chords 11 and tend to support the direct weight of the roof covering generally indicated at 27.

The surface contour of the roof may be determined by the arrangement of the guy wires 19 and the roof chords with relation to each other and the struts 25. It will be evident that the shape of the roof may be varied by the degree of variation in length between the struts 25 at each of the trusses 26.

In order to draw the truss units taut it is desirable to interpose turn buckles 28 at points in the length of the roof cables 23. The struts 25 may be of any desired construction, but are preferably formed of lengths of pi the ends of which are slit to receive the ca 1e and which ends are clamped down upon the cable by clamping bolts 29 and 30. This makes it possible to assemble the structure between the guy wires 19 and the roof cables 23 without threading the wires through openings in the ends of the struts, and at the same time insures that when the bolts 29 and 30 are tightened, the struts will not be displaced from their set position.

It is to be understood that the frame structure as previously described comprises a plurality of sets of chords 11, and truss sections 26 arranged in radial vertical planes with relation to the king post 10, and secured at their outer ends to the vertical wall posts 13. The roof trusses 26 provide suitable support for a roof network upon which the roofing elements are directly applied. This network, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, consists of a plurality of transverse supporting wires 31 and a plurality of radial supporting wires 32 at right angles. thereto; the wires being suitably spaced from each other and fastened to the roof cables 23. The wires 31 may, in fact, be a continuous wire spirally wound around and over the entire roof and starting from one of the vertical posts 13 and terminating with the king post. This will obviate the cutting of a large number of wires.

Disposed upon the roof network comprising the wires 31 and 32, there is preferably laid a sheet metal covering 33, which will render the roof fireproof. This covering is fastened through the network cables by wires or other fastening methods 34. The covering preferably carries a layer of sound deadening and insulating material such as a commodity known in the trade as Celotex, and generally indicated at 35 in the drawings. This particular material is of light weight and is desirable for the present purpose. The

layer of sound deadening material 35 is then covered with an asphalt roofing 36 by which the entire roof structure is protected against the action of the elements, and is rendered waterproof.

If desired, a false ceiling may be suspended from the roof, and in that event ceiling cables 37 are secured to the fastenings 24 and the vertical posts 13, and will lead across and beneath the roof structure previously (lescribed. These cables are fastened to the lower end of the kin post 10 by the plate 16 and the bolts 18. he contour of the ceiling may, of course, be determined by the amount of flexure given to the cables 37. This contour may be further established by ceiling hangers 38 which depend from the roof trusses 26 at intervals throu hout their len th and are secured by their ower ends to t e ceiling cables 37. Any desired ceiling may be applied, although it is preferable to apply sheets of sound deadening material 35 to the ceiling cables 37 to form a ceiling closure.

In operation, the cable for the structurestructure will be assembled by stretching the chord cables 11, attaching the king 0st 10 thereto, and thereabove, and therea ter applying the roof supporting truss elements in corporated within the trusses 26. The cables 23 may then be tightened by the turn buckles 28 and the ceiling cables and ceiling hanger cables thereafter applied. It is then desirable to ap ly the roof network to cables 31 and 32, a er which the sheet metal covering 33 may be applied. This covering may be fastened by suitable wire fasteners passing around the cables 31 and 32, or by other suitable means. A sound deadening covering may then be placed over the sheet metal covering and the entire covering rendered waterproof by the application of tarred paper and an asphalt roofing, as indicated at 36 of the drawings.

The ceiling may then be hung from the ceiling cables 37 and the structure will then be complete.

Attention will be directed to the fact that in certain instances where it is desirable to shield the enclosure from overhead noises, such as the objectionable noise of passing air planes which would damage sound pictures being taken at moving picture studios, the sound deadening roof and the sound deadening ceiling with the intermediate air space will act to completely insulate the area bei neath the roof from objectionable sound, and it will also be evident that this structure will permit large areas to be covered with a roof without the use of objectionable vertical supporting posts distributed over the area covered, and that the roof as here constructed will be permanent in its structure, will permit variable strains to be set up in its framework without damage, and is relatively cheap in construction and labor required to assemble it.

Attention is also directed to the safety i11- volved in a dome of this sort, as compared with those now made of re-enforced concrete. In re-enforced concrete structures it is necessary to have aheavy strong structural frame around which concrete is poured while supported from expensive forms- It often occurs that the concrete does not dry uniformly and that part of it eventually fall from the roof. It is also true that the moisture of the concrete is detrimental to the. re-enforcing elements, thus reducing its strength and making it uncertain as to when a portion of a re enforced concrete ceiling will fall. Due to the heavy structural frame required and the weight of the concrete, the collapse of any portion of the concrete roof or ceiling is liable to result in heavy casualties.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes might be made in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts, by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A roof structure comprising a king post, a vertical wall structure surrounding and delineating an area to be covered by a roof, a plurality of tension cables secured by their outer ends to the wall and extending across said area and beneath the king post for the support of the same, a plurality of guy cables in substantially the same plane with said tension cables and secured to said wall and passing substantially upwardly over the upper end of the king post, a plurality of roof cables disposed above the guy cables in the same plane therewith and secured by their outer ends to the wall and secured to the king post, and a plurality of rigid struts of graded lengths interposed between the guy cables and the roof cables, for cooperating therewith toform roof supporting trusses extending from the upper end of the king post to the upper ends of the wall, the said struts gradually decreasing in length from near the middle to the ends of eachtruss to maintain the roof cable in outwardly convex shape.

2. A roof structure comprising a king post, a plurality of vertical-wall posts arranged therearound in spaced relation thereto and delineating an area to be covered by a roof, a plurality of tension cables secured by their outer ends to the wall posts and extending across that area and beneath the king post for the support of the same, a plurality of guy cables in substantially the same plane with said tension cables and secured to said vertical posts and passing substantially upwardly over the upper end of the king post, a plurality of roof cables disposed above the guy cables in the same plane therewith and secured by their outer ends to the wall posts and secured to the king post, a plurality of rigid struts interposed between the guy cables and the roof cables for cooperating therewith to formroof supporting trusses extending from the upper end of the king post to the upper ends of the wall posts, and a cable network supported upon the roof supporting trusses to receive a roof covering.

3. A roof structure comprising a king post, a plurality of vertical wall posts arranged therearound in spaced relation thereto and delineating an area to be covered by a roof, a plurality of tension cables secured by their outer ends to the wall posts and extending across that area and beneath the king post for the support of the same, a plurality of guy cables in substantially the same plane with said tension cables and secured. to said vertical posts and passing substantially upwardly over the upper end of the king post, a plurality of roof cables disposed above the guy cables in the same plane therewith and secured by their outer ends to the wall posts and secured to the king post, a plurality of rigid struts interposed between the guy cables and the roof cables for cooperating therewith to form roof supporting trusses extendingfrom the upper end of the king post to the upper ends of the wall posts, a

cable network supported upon the roof sup-- porting trusses to receive a roof covering,

and a cable network suspended from the trusses to receive a ceiling.

4. In a roof construction having in combination, supporting pillars, transversely directed tension cables, a king post vertically positioned-in the center of said cables, a

plurality of cables suspended from the top of said king post, a second group of cables in paired relation to the cables suspended from said king post, struts eonvergingly spacing said paired cables, and means on said kingposts to secure said cables thereto, said means comprising flan ed ends on said posts and clamping plates y which said cables are held intact and inseparable from the flange on said posts.

MARTIN L. HQUSEMAN. 

